The Nearshore and Coastal Processes Initiative

Many Arctic processes that potentially affect global climate are not well studied and associated mechanisms are not well understood. In certain regions of the Arctic Ocean, including its shelves, there is only a minimal description of circulation, hydrography, and seasonal variability. Likewise, the few data pertaining to biological productivity and the fate of this production are so broadly distributed in time and space that it is difficult to distinguish temporal from spatial variability.

The primary goal of the Arctic Nearshore and Coastal Processes Initiative is to improve our understanding of the biogeochemical and hydrological processes that occur on the nearshore zone of the arctic shelf and coastal plain with respect to changes in global climate. This international, multi-agency initiative would support land, river, and sea-based researchers who could take advantage of coordinated logistical capabilities that would otherwise be unavailable.

This forum will focus on the following questions, but participants are encouraged to share any research results, information, divergent opinions, and other information that will add to the discussion. All of the questions below will be moderated by Lee Cooper, Ken Dunton, and Steve Zeeman.

  1. How will earth system history research approaches be important for assessing current environmental change at the land-sea boundary of the Arctic Ocean?
  2. How can we get school children living in arctic coastal communities interested in the challenges of environmental change within their local communities?
  3. How can we overcome the challenges of conducting research that is useful to human society across political and cultural boundaries?
  4. What do we need to do to insure that local residents of the Arctic coastal zone place value on having scientists conduct research in and near their communities?
  5. How will the Nearshore Initiative connect with researchers who primarily work on land?